In India, personal functions like birthdays and weddings have become big social events that are being managed professionally. With growth rate at 35 per cent annually and the industry set to touch Rs 5,000 crore by the end of this year, job opportunities in this field are plenty, provided one has the required skills, says Shubhra Bhardwaj
India is a dynamic democracy on the verge of a social and economic change and that is being reflected in all its aspects especially the entertainment industry. Career options and revenue modules are changing. Young people have various career options to choose from unlike the generation before them. Not only are the options different, they are also well paying, satisfying and challenging. Event management is one of those fields that encompasses all of the above. It gives one ample opportunities for unleashing creative potential. It involves visualisation, creativity, meticulous planning and venue management. This industry has gained momentum in the last few years due to the change in marketing and advertising plans. Even the increase in demand of professional socialising has added to this field. Most events today are organised by an event management company, with experts taking care of every little detail — right from the colour scheme at the venue to the food and drinks to the amusements and contests lined up for guests. It is almost like making a wish and having it granted by an event manager.
Event management required multiple skills. As per a recent study, it said that one needs 21 skill sets to be an event manager. If you have some of the qualities needed, it might just be the career for you. To start with, a flair for planning and organizing events effectively and passion for doing it creatively is a must. Good communication skills combined with marketing and business acumen works wonders. One definitely needs to be a team player with great leadership skills to keep the team motivated and moving. Apart from risk and crisis management abilities, one should be able to withstand high-pressure situations and deliver results nonetheless. An understanding and capability of making and delivering projects within a budget is a must. The event management industry is an extremely demanding one and to be able to multi-task and be proactive will prove to be a boon for you. last but not the least, you need to be client-focused. Extroverts usually have an advantage in this field due to their outgoing and easy to get along nature. They like making new friends, have lots of contacts and a huge network of people, which is like gold currency in professional circles. Extroverts have a natural knack for interpersonal interactions and therefore make inspiring leaders.
The excitement of being a part of this industry is the people, the travel and the exposure. One needs to be a thorough professional to withstand the immense pressure and demands. The following would be expected of you as an event manager:
Development, production and delivery of projects from proposal right up to delivery.
Delivering events on time, within budget, that meet (and hopefully exceed) expectations.
Setting, communicating and maintaining timelines and priorities on every project.
Communicating, maintaining and developing client relationships
Managing supplier relationships
Managing operational and administrative functions to ensure that specific projects are delivered efficiently
Providing leadership, motivation, direction and support to your team
Travelling to on site inspections and project managing events
Being responsible for all project budgets from start to finish.
Ensuring excellent customer service and quality delivery
Event management can sound like a glamorous career, and in some ways it really is. No two days will be the same. The events will range from anything as small as business meetings, to events as huge as concerts or sporting events. There will also be all of the in between sized events as well. Exciting things like sporting events, fashion shows, launches, exhibitions and fairs. Each day really can bring something new to the table and you will find yourself learning on the job all the time.
But being an event planner is an exhausting job. One has to do a lot of running around, a lot of co-ordination and planning and work in tandem with large groups of people. One may be dealing with hundreds of people while planning a single event on thousands of people on the day of the event. So be prepared to work long hours. One must also remember that one is not attending these elaborate events as a guest.
You are there to work and after weeks or even months of working hard on this project, the actual event is the moment you are pulling it all together. So, it is not unusual for the event planner to not get a chance to even breathe on the day let alone sit down and enjoys a three-course meal with the guests. To become an event manager, one must have an MBA degree or a post graduate diploma in advertising, media & event management.
A lot of specialised institutes prepare you well for a career in this field. Even well-known mass communication schools help you develop your skills for this industry. Some of the institutes where one can study are: EMDI Institute of Media & Communication, Mumbai, National Institute Of Event Management, Mumbai. Then there are some mass communication schools like XIC (Mumbai), IIMC (Delhi), SIMC (Pune), Mudra Institute of Communication, (Ahmedabad).
The courses covered include: Event activation and event conceptualisation, event planning and road mapping, stage planning and cost effective production execution, venue lighting and sound specifics, planning and execution event logistics, etc. Overall, event management as a career is an extremely challenging and demanding but equally exciting option. So if you have an appetite for challenges and would love to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where no two projects are the same, a career in this sector is for you.
(The writer is founder & MD Ferriswheel)